Temecula Valley Young Marines have breakfast with Mr. Ed McMahon Col USMC (Ret).

I doubt many Young Marines know who Mr. Ed McMahon is but I am pretty sure the adult volunteers do! Most people recognize him from his 30 years on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Others will say, “Hey that’s the guy from the Publishers Clearing House commercials.” But the Temecula Valley Young Marines have a different picture of this former Marine and television personality…. They know him as Colonel McMahon (USMC ret.) 84 years old, who flew a Corsair and during the Korean War he flew artillery-spotting missions. In 1966 he was commissioned as a Brigadier General of the California Air National Guard.

On May 30 th 2007, the Temecula Valley Young Marines were asked to present the colors at the Distinguished Flying Cross Desert Command’s monthly meeting. At this month’s meeting Mr. McMahon was the guest speaker. The unit’s Company Gunny GySgt. Katie Aguilar marched out with her sword and marched on the Colors . Young Marines SSgt. Nicholas Guiles and Sgt Joshua Smith marched out and presented the colors to the group , . They were then led in the pledge of allegiance by the Young Marines and Mr. McMahon. After the Colors were posted the meeting continued on and the names were read for the missing airmen. At the end of the reading CO Guiles gave the word and Cpl. Joshua Currier and Cpl. Jake Fetters sprang to life and played the “echo” version of taps for the distinguished guests , . After the Young Marines presented the colors Mr. McMahon thanked the Young Marines for being there and for setting a fine example for their peers. He also complemented the buglers by saying Doc Severinsen would be proud of them. (Doc Severinsen was the Tonight Show’s band leader).

Mr. McMahon told us all a little bit about himself and informed all of us that he would like to be called Colonel instead of General because he is a Marine before anything else. We continued with the meeting and enjoyed having breakfast with Mr. McMahon. When the event was over we asked Mr. McMahon if we could take a picture with him. “Of course,” he said, “I would love to have a picture with my Young Marines” . The morning’s events were a memorable event. The Young Marines made a new friends and talked with our living history. Mr. McMahon said the Young Marines Organization is a blessing and he loves them , .

The gentlemen from the Distinguished Flying Cross Desert Command thanked the Young Marines for being there. They were very pleased with the professionalism and the mannerisms of the Young Marines.

After the meeting and all the photo ops with Mr. McMahon we rushed over to the Palm Springs International Airport . About a month ago the Temecula Valley Young Marines had been requested to provide support for AMVETS. Soon after the Young Marines’ arrival at the airport Mr. Ed McMahon arrived and said “Hey it’s my Young Marines! I love having my own Young Marines, you guys and gals are great!” The unit’s Color Guard, SSgt. Nicholas Guiles and Sgt. Joshua Smith presented the colors and lead everyone in the USO in the pledge of allegiance . The local news was there to witness the whole event . Mr. Robert Boot of AMVETS was present and he and Mr. McMahon opened the very first Operation DVD and USO center . With the permission of the USO the center will be providing transitioning service personnel, deploying to combat zones, with a small bag with DVDs and other items. Mr. Boot and Mr. McMahon were impressed with the Young Marines and how they are helping AMVETS out with Operation DVD . Mr. Boot also thanked the Temecula Valley Young Marines for collecting 1,559 DVDs for the Operation . What a day… We started at 0500 and ended at 1300 it was a long day but it was well worth it. We provided support for three separate organizations and showed them What the Young Marines organization is and what we can accomplish. Oooh- Rah!!! Temecula Valley Young Marines and Semper Fi Col. McMahon, for an enjoyable and very memorable day.

Michael Guiles

Commanding Officer

Temecula Valley Young Marines

 

See more Pictures of the days events here